Monahan has 2 goals, assist as Flames beat Canadiens 4-1

MONTREAL – Sean Monahan had two goals and an assist to help the Calgary Flames beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 Sunday night.

Joe Colborne and Johnny Gaudreau also scored for the Flames, who have points in four straight games. Niklas Backstrom, playing for the first time in more than a year, finished with 21 saves.

Michael McCarron scored his first NHL goal for Montreal, which has lost four of its last five. Michael Condon stopped 30 shots.

Backstrom, acquired from Minnesota on Feb. 29, appeared in his first NHL game since Jan. 13, 2015.

One of Montreal's best chances came when Flames defenseman Mark Giordano accidentally backhanded a shot at his own net in the first period.